If you’ve ever wanted to hear about the motivations behind murders from the perpetrators themselves, then I Am a Killer is the show for you. It presents first-person accounts of people convicted of murders, who share their stories. Sometimes, they even own up to their crime.
Rather than investigating the mystery of who committed the murder, episodes start with the answer to that question and focus on the killer’s story first. Then, the victims’ families and friends share the impact of the murder on their lives, and detectives detail some parts of their investigations, but not as much as other true crime shows. Because I Am a Killer emphasizes first-person accounts, it doesn’t have narration, letting viewers hear the story from those involved firsthand.
While the show focuses more on the perpetrators’ stories, it is more balanced than the defendant-focused Accused: Guilty or Innocent? by incorporating the perspectives of victims’ loved ones.
It’s a fascinating look into the minds of killers and sheds light on the complicated nature of the stories people tell themselves when accused of a violent crime.
Hosted and narrated by Faith Jenkins, a former prosecutor who was also a judge on Divorce Court, Killer Relationship shares stories of relationships gone so wrong that they result in murder. Most of the cases are intimate partner homicides, but some involve other close relationships.
Jenkins provides a bit of commentary on some of the cases, drawing on her experience with domestic violence cases and on Divorce Court, and the show includes some police interviews and insight from victims’ family and friends. No trial clips, though, just foreboding stories of how some relationships, even seemingly stable ones, can end in murder.
If you’re a fan of Datelineand its spouse-did-it episodes, check out Killer Relationship.
On August 23, 1987, Selonia Reed was found dead in her 1986 Chevrolet Sprint in a vacant lot at a local convenience store in Hammond, Louisiana. Her body was covered in lotion, and she had suffered blunt force trauma to her face, with multiple stab wounds to her body, including an umbrella between her legs.
Selonia Reed is my mother.
The murder remained an unsolved cold case for over 30 years, shrouded in mystery and unanswered questions, until a cigarette butt was DNA tested and found to match an individual who was indicted as a co-defendant. Continuous investigation by law enforcement allowed the pieces of the puzzle to come together, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation—the connection to my own father, Reginald Reed Sr.
Nearly 40 years after the murder, on November 18, 2022, my father was found guilty of second-degree murder and is now serving life in prison for her death.
Writing a Memoir About My Mother’s Murder
Only 6 years old when the crime occurred, I had to rely on my childhood memories while gathering evidence for my memoir about the murder, The Day My Mother Never Came Home. My memories from that time were fragmented and influenced by various factors, including my father’s narrative. My goal was closure, using available resources and corroborating evidence to construct an accurate portrayal of the events leading up to the crime. I also aimed for ethical storytelling based in sensitivity, empathy, and a commitment to truth and justice.
Reggie Reed Jr.
Every crime is a web of interconnected lives, each deserving of understanding and compassion, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Unlike a traditional journalism approach that prioritizes objectivity and detachment, my narrative is deeply personal, intertwined with my own emotions, experiences, and relationships. My closeness to the story compelled me to approach it with heightened sensitivity, recognizing the interconnected lives and human complexities behind the crime.
To write a true crime memoir about my mother’s murder, I had to delve into the depths of past events, piece together fragments of information, and unearth long-buried truths. Central to this endeavor was the task of requesting and collecting evidence from various law enforcement agencies, a journey marked by challenges, revelations, and profound shifts in perspective.
The Trail of Evidence in the Murder
Gathering evidence first involved submitting formal requests to relevant law enforcement agencies and speaking with a defense attorney. I had to navigate bureaucratic channels, understand legal protocols, and exercise patience as responses trickled in. Each request was accompanied by a detailed explanation of the information I was seeking, ranging from case files, to witness statements, to forensic reports and investigative notes. I waited for weeks—or even months—for law enforcement agencies to provide information, delaying my research and writing.
As the responses started to trickle in, I immersed myself in a sea of documents, each offering a glimpse into the intricate web of events that shaped the crime. Some documents corroborated what I already knew, providing additional context and depth to key moments in the story. Others, however, unveiled startling revelations and uncovered details that had eluded me until that point.
One startling document revealed several life insurance policies that were taken out over the year leading up to my mother’s death, and a couple that were initiated as soon as two weeks before the murder. This discovery raised suspicions about possible motives and connections to the crime that had not been previously considered. The document not only provided a new angle to the investigation but also highlighted the complexity of the case and the need to dig deeper into the financial aspects surrounding the crime.
I also came across previously undisclosed witness accounts that shed new light on the sequence of events leading up to the murder, challenged existing narratives, and led to a reevaluation of key suspects in the case. One witness provided a detailed description of a vehicle leaving the scene at an unusual hour, contradicting the initial timeline presented by other witnesses.
These discoveries reshaped my understanding of the events and the individuals involved. What I had once perceived as a straightforward narrative became a complex tapestry of intersecting lives, hidden agendas, and unforeseen consequences. It forced me to reevaluate my assumptions, question my interpretations, and embrace the nuances of human behavior in the face of adversity.
Another pivotal moment in the evidence-gathering process was the analysis of forensic reports. I had to familiarize myself with forensic terminology, understand the nuances of forensic analysis, and cross-check facts to ensure accuracy. These reports related to the crime scene, my mother’s injuries, and the potential motives behind the murder, reports that either contradicted or corroborated witness testimonies and suspect statements. I was skeptical when encountering conflicting information or discrepancies between witness testimonies and forensic findings, but the convergence of witness accounts, forensic evidence, and official reports painted a vivid picture of the crime, its aftermath, and the subsequent investigation.
The 1986 Chevrolet Sprint
The Emotional Impact of Reading Evidence About My Mother’s Case
As I discovered new information and grappled with its implications, I felt a range of emotions: shock, disbelief, anger, and empathy. The evidence humanized the individuals involved, reminding me of the inherent complexities of human nature and the capacity for both good and evil within us all.
I also encountered conflicting information that challenged my perceptions of my father’s guilt or innocence. Some evidence pointed toward motives or connections that could implicate him, and other information and witness accounts raised doubts or alternative explanations. I realized the need for a comprehensive and unbiased approach to understanding the motives and individuals involved in the crime, without jumping to conclusions or being influenced solely by my emotions or preconceived notions.
The journey of requesting and collecting evidence for my true crime memoir was a transformative experience marked by discovery, introspection, and emotional resonance. It challenged me to confront uncomfortable truths, navigate moral ambiguity, and honor the complexity of human stories. Ultimately, it reinforced my belief in the power of storytelling to illuminate truths, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful change.
Reginald L. Reed Jr. is an author and an accomplished professional in the pharmaceutical industry. He holds a master’s degree in business and global marketing. In his first book, The Day My Mother Never Came Home, Reed recalls the events surrounding the unsolved murder of his mother and the subsequent indictment and trial of his father, nearly 40 years later. His story will be featured in an episode of Fatal Attraction, releasing July 22, 2024. Visit rlreed.com to learn more.
Two people have no idea that their lives will intersect with a murder. Fatal Encounters is a true crime show that counts down the lives of two individuals up to the point of a murder, detailing the events that preceded and caused it. For many of the episodes, the victim and killer’s lives only intersect through homicide. Other victims and killers were well known to each other.
The show is about the big reveal: not who the killer is, as many true crime shows emphasize, but which person is the victim and which is the killer, or what incited the murder.
Episodes are not always about cases involving only two people, but the focus is on two individuals, so the show leaves out some details about other victims and killers involved in some of the homicides, devoting less time to their stories or backgrounds. And because the focus is on the countdown to the murder itself, the subsequent investigations are deprioritized.
If you’re looking for a true crime show that is more drama than documentary, check out Betrayed. Betrayed relies heavily on dramatizations of murder cases, with each episode telling these stories through fictionalized re-creations that follow the events before the crime, to the murder and investigation. Interspersed between these dramatizations are interviews with detectives and victims’ family and friends, but the focus of the show is on the re-creations, which parallel crime dramas by following the story in a linear fashion, complete with narrative techniques like tension, conflict, and foreshadowing.
The show focuses on murders perpetrated by someone the victim knew, who ultimately betrayed them by killing them. Episodes begin with a roundup of all the possible suspects, then detail events before the crime that may have contributed to the killer’s motive, then follow the murder and its investigation.
Adding to that crime drama feel are voice-over narrations by the actors playing the victims, who describe each event leading up to and after the murder from their point of view.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 4 (2016-2020)
Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+
More shows like Betrayed: Blood Relatives, A Crime to Remember, Love, Honor, Betray
Murder Calls revolves around 911 calls made during or after a specific murder, some from the victims, but mostly from those finding the victim after the murder. The show opens with a warning that these calls may be graphic and disturbing, but only some actually are.
No narration between interviews with detectives and victims’ families and friends; instead, the show flashes short descriptions on the screen to fill in information. It includes police interviews and sometimes extended 911 calls, which provide more information on cases that you may have seen on other shows. In addition, episodes often add additional 911 calls.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 3 (2017-2020)
Where to stream: Hulu, Tubi, Max, the Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+
More shows like Murder Calls: Hear No Evil, Calls from the Inside
Unusual Suspects looks at murder cases from a different angle than other true crime shows: suspects who are unusual in some way. Avoiding the-spouse-did-it cases emphasized by shows like Dateline, the show focuses on suspects who are unusual in their relationship to the victim, their profession, or some other reason, making them unlikely killers.
The show comes across as a bit salacious at times in its narration, but is interesting and unique in its emphasis on atypical perpetrators. It features detectives, victims’ families and friends, and others involved in the investigations. If you’re looking for an anti-Dateline, this show is for you.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 8 (2010-2016)
Where to stream: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Discovery+
More shows like Unusual Suspects: Unusual Suspects: Deadly Intent, An Unexpected Killer
Can’t get enough of Keith Morrison? Here are 10 more of his best episodes from Dateline, complete with twisty stories, creepy voiceovers, and suspect pushback.
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1. “The Last Ride” (Season 31, Episode 1)
Professional cyclist Moriah Wilson is found murdered in her apartment in Austin, Texas, in 2022, dead from two gunshot wounds. Was it her colleague and romantic interest, fellow cyclist Colin Strickland? Or someone else? As the police investigate, they discover video surveillance of a vehicle arriving at the apartment just before the murder. It’s a twisty episode full of jealousy, stalking, and murder, even a suspect on the lam, who flees to Costa Rica to start a new life under an assumed name but is caught 43 days later.
2. “The Real Thing About Pam” (Season 30, Episode 22)
In 2011, Betsy Faria is found stabbed to death in her home in Missouri. Police find bloodstained slippers in her husband, Russell’s, closet, and a document by Betsy expressing her concern that he might kill her. Betsy’s friend tells the police that he had threatened to kill Betsy. But he had an alibi, and he wasn’t the recipient of the life insurance money. The killer is also suspected in two other murders. If you can’t get enough of the case, check out Keith Morrison’s podcast on it and NBC’s limited series, The Thing About Pam.
3. “The Ascension of Mother God” (Season 30, Episode 4)
The mummified body of spiritual leader Amy Carlson, who called herself “Mother God,” is found in the house of some of the members of her cult, Love Has Won, in rural Colorado. The body was wrapped in Christmas lights and covered with a sleeping bag. Was it murder or did she die another way? The episode is full of conspiracies, cult beliefs, and other weirdnesses perfect for Keith to report on.
4. “Buried Secrets” (Season 20, Episode 58)
David Jackson disappears in 1988 in Florida, just before he is supposed to meet someone at a motel. Three months later, his car is discovered at the airport, but police have no other leads. The case goes cold until 14 years later, when a new detective links a skeleton in a box to his disappearance. The bones were recovered during the construction of a new Walmart in Florida years earlier. Further investigation leads to a confession, but were all the killers caught? Is everyone telling the truth? Keith interviews one of the suspects and pushes for answers.
5. “Tangled” (Season 24, Episode 38)
In Walsenburg, Colorado, Ralph Candelario is found in front of his house, injured and calling for help. His wife, Pam, is found murdered inside. Both had been beaten by burglars in the middle of the night. When investigators look at the closest people in Pam’s circle, they discover another murder by their main suspect. A letter to the town newspaper, written by the suspect, raises the suspicions of police and leads to answers.
6. “Secrets in a Small Town” (Season 20, Episode 17)
In Alabama, Theresa Mayfield is found shot dead in her car on a dirt road. She had gone there to help a friend whose car had broken down, but the police only discover her body in her car, with the window rolled down. With no other clues, the case goes cold until a witness comes forward, claiming that he had been on the same road that day and someone had given him a gun in a plastic bag. The gun was the murder weapon.
7. “The Family Secret” (Season 18, Episode 26)
When Lloyd Ford leaves his wife and family in Ainsworth, Nebraska, his children assume he’ll come back. Years pass, and he never returns, so his wife files for divorce. But one of his daughters knows what really happened, that he’s been dead for years, and it takes her 25 years to tell anyone. Keith interviews the daughter, and the story she reveals is both shocking and heartbreaking.
8. “In the Dead of Night” (Season 19, Episode 3)
At a farm in rural Nebraska, Wayne and Sharmon Stock are found shot dead on Easter Sunday in 2006. Police immediately look to their closest circle and become suspicious of their nephew Matthew, who was supposedly angry at them over money. He fails a polygraph and upon questioning, confesses, saying that he and his cousin Nick murdered the couple. But an engraved ring found at the murder scene is unexplained. When police investigate, they begin to question Matthew’s confession. If you’ve ever been skeptical about police interrogations, polygraphs, and the Reed technique, check this episode out.
9. “The Disappearance of Debbie Hawk” (Season 18, Episode 55)
In Hanford, California, Debbie Hawk’s children come home to find her missing and blood leading from the bedroom to the garage. Papers are scattered everywhere. To the police, the crime scene looks staged. They find her car abandoned with keys in the ignition. Debbie’s ex-husband has an alibi—he was at home with the kids all night. But suspicions build, and they divide the family. Keith’s pushback against the main suspect, who he interviews, is classic.
10. “Miles from Nowhere” (Season 22, Episode 5)
At a remote cabin in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Chad Wallin-Reed and his family feel threatened by vandals who stole a light from their property, concerned due to recent break-ins at their cabin. When the vandals return the following night, Chad fires a warning shot at their car then follows in his own car. When he catches up to them, someone fires a gun at him, so he continues to follow them and fires back. The car stops, and he approaches, finding the driver wounded, possibly dead. In fact, he had shot not just the driver but six men. Chad tells the police that they had shot at him and that it was all in self-defense. But that’s only one side of the story, and when police investigate, the truth surfaces.
The FBI Files offers a wider take on true crime cases, covering murder but also bank robberies, kidnappings, bombings, organized crime, and other crimes investigated by the FBI, sometimes in conjunction with local authorities.
FBI agents, local detectives, and others working on the cases share their experiences and describe investigative and interview techniques, going into detail about them similar to the coverage on The New Detectivesand the original Cold Case Files.
FBI agents also discuss the use of profiling on some cases, including cases involving serial killers. The show incorporates re-creations and some historical footage, but few episodes bring on victims’ loved ones.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 7 (1998-2005)
Where to stream: Tubi, The Roku Channel, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
More shows like The FBI Files: FBI Criminal Pursuit, FBI: Critical Incident, FBI Takedowns, FBI’s Most Wanted, The New Detectives, Cold Case Files
Hosted by journalist Paula Zahn, this true crime show offers murder cases from across the US. Many cases are from the 1970s to 1990s, including cases not covered on other shows, and most are stranger murders. The show includes re-creations and some police interviews but few trial clips, which are brief when incorporated.
Zahn narrates the show and interviews detectives, victims’ loved ones, and sometimes perpetrators. Her interviews aren’t as hard-hitting or empathetic as those of the Dateline hosts, but if you’re looking for a show with tons of episodes, this one’s for you. With 26 seasons and still going strong, you’ll have your schedule set for the next decade.
The Show Elements
Seasons: 27 (2009-)
Where to stream: Discovery+, Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
More shows like On the Case with Paula Zahn: Dateline, Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen
True Crime Docket 